Shoe



June 9, 1925.

P. MANCUSO ET AL SHOE Filed Dec. 9, 1924 M 0 "3 a M 2 w W w M amine Fatented June 9, 1925.

warren stares Parent PETER MANCUSO, OF "WEi'S'l I-IAZLETQN, AND PETER NATOLITANO, OF BEAVER MEADGW'S,

PENNSYLVANIA. I

Application filed December To all whom may concern:

Be it known that we, PETER lVLmoUso and PETER Niironimwo, citizens of the United States, residing at WVest Hazleton and Beaver Meadows, in the counties of Luzerne and Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, re spectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new improvements in shoes and has for its principal obj ect to provide a closure for the uppers, the same being of such construction as to enable the uppers to be easily and eiiiciently closed, and secured together against accidental displacement.

An object of the invention is to provide a shoe closure wherein certain of the closure means will be concealed when fastened.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a shoe closure of the above mentioned character, which may be readily and easily fastened or unfastened, the same be ing simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable, and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe embodying my invention, showing the closure means associated With the upper in an unfastened relation.

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the upper in a closed position, and I Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the fastening means for the free ends of the straps associated with the cover memher.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 designates generally a shoe of any desirable construction, the upper thereof being indicated at 2. One of the free edges of the upper is provided with a pair of tongues 3 and 4 respectively, the same being adapted for interlocking engagement with the slotted tabs 5 and 6 respectively, which extend laterally from the opposite free edge of the upper, the slit of each of the tabs being illustrated at 7. The fastening means 9, 1324. Serial No. 754,769.

3 and 5 are located adjacent the top of the shoe, while the fastening means 4 and 6 are arranged adjacent the instep, as clearly illustrated in the drawing.

F or the purpose of concealing the aforementioned fastening means, a piece of leather, such as is shown at 8, is stitched on the outer face of the upper 2, adjacent the free edge thereof, from which extends the tongues 3 and l, and the piece of leather 8 is of such width as to entirely conceal the fastening means, when the latter are fastened together. The free edge of the cover piece 8 is adapted to extend over the opposite free edge of the upper 2 and on which is formed the tabs 5 and 6, in the manner as more clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

Extending from the free edge of the leather cover 8 are the elongated strips or straps 9 and 10 respectively. The free ends thereof may be provided with inserts of steel, celluloid, or fiber, as indicated at 11, to facilitate the insertion thereof through the slots 12 and 13 formed in the upper 2 of the shoe 1, and the portion which is provided with the tabs 5 and 6, and a numher of these slits being provided in the uper as may be desired.-

The slits 12 are arranged adjacent the upper edge of the upper, While the slits 13 extend across intermediate portions of the upper, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The straps 9 and 10, which are adapted to extend through the slits 12 and 13 respectively, have their free ends bent back upon themselves and disposed within certain of the slits as illustrated more clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings, to prevent the displacement of the straps from the slits, thus holding the cover 8 in position over the interlocking fastening means, the construction of which has heretofore been more fully described.

-While We have shown these fastening means as associated with a high shoe, it is to be understood that the same fastening means may be employed with low shoes. The provision of a closure for a shoe of the character above described obviates the necessity of employing laces or buttons, and furthermore the parts are so arranged as to permit the fastening means to be readily fastened or unfastened as may be desired, Without the loss of any considerable length of time labor. When :1 shoe has its upper rzzstened, the same Will provide a neat appearance, Without causing the interlocking fastening means to be seen.

While We have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

aving thus described our invention what We claim is:

1. In a shoe, interlocking fastening means for the forward free edges of the upper of said shoe, one side of the upper having slits formed therein, a cover secured to the free edge at the other side of the upper, said cover adapted to extend over the aforementioned fastening means and the opposite free edge of the upper, and means for securing the tree edges of the cover to the upper comprising straps extending from the free edge of the cover and adapted to extend threngh said slits. V

2. n a shoe, slotted tahs extending from one of the tree edges of the upper of said shoe, the portion of the upper provided With said tabs having slits formed therein, tongues extending from the other "tree ec ge of the upper and adapted for interlocking engagement with said slotted tabs for cl0s ing the forward open portions oi the uppers, a cover or the tree edges of the upper and said fast iing means, said cover being sered at one edge to the edge ()1 the upper i'ia in which the ari oreinentionedton ues exterii said cover adapted to extend over the eppo-iite treeedge oi the upper and straps extending from th, tree edge of the cover 1 for engagement With the slits.

in testin'rony whereof We atlix our signatures.

PETER MANCUSO. PETER NAPOLITANO. 

